Survey results help North Clackamas School District prepare for superintendent search

The North Clackamas School Board and former Superintendent Tim Mills. The district is preparing to look for a new superintendent since Mills left last spring for a job with the Bellevue School District in Washington. Emily Fuggetta/The Oregonian

The results of a recent survey commissioned by the North Clackamas School District are giving administrators and board members insight into what teachers, staff, parents and more want in a new superintendent.

In preparation for its search, the district tacked on some questions to its community survey that asked what qualifications the next superintendent should have given the challenges its currently facing.

Matt Utterback, a long-time teacher and administrator with North Clackamas Schools, was appointed as the interim superintendent for this school year after Tim Mills left the district last spring for a job with the Bellevue School District in Washington.

The results of the survey were presented to the North Clackamas Board at Thursday’s meeting. Here’s a brief breakdown of what the more than 2,000 people who responded thought about not only qualifications, but what kind of search should be conducted.

When asked about the search, 35 percent of people said it didn’t matter what part of the country the superintendent was from, while 29 percent said the search should be nation-wide and 26 percent said it should just be conducted in the Northwest.

70 percent of people felt it was important for the superintendent to have experience in a district similar in size to North Clackamas

51 percent said the ideal candidate should have a background as a teacher or school principal, while 25 percent said they should have previous experience as a superintendent.

When asked about leadership skills, 48 percent said innovation should be the top priority, while 37 percent said team building

As far as leadership style goes, 46 percent wanted the superintendent’s style to be democratic, while 37 percent said visionary.

For communication style, 30 percent said the person should be transparent, and 25 percent said advocacy is key.

When asked about education skills, 31 percent said the top priority should be building academic programs and 26 percent said raising academic standards.

For operation skills, 50 percent said budget balancing should be at the top and 21 percent said community collaboration. Another 21 percent said the superintendent should have a strategic focus.

People who received the survey included teachers, classified staff, parents, budget committee members, chamber of commerce members, social service workers and administrators. The survey was open from Oct. 17-28.